Canucks 3, Predators 1

Bucky Dent, The Sports Xchange

The SportsXchange•December 4, 2013

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Add another road win to the Vancouver Canucks' impressive total. The first of center Ryan Kesler's two third-period goals broke a tie Tuesday night, and Vancouver posted a 3-1 win over the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Goaltender Roberto Luongo (12-8-5) notched 30 saves for the Canucks (15-10-5). Vancouver improved to 10-5-2 away from home and completed a four-game road trip with a 3-1-0 mark. Nashville (13-12-3) fell to 0-2-1 on its four-game homestand. Kesler snapped a 1-1 deadlock at 7:37 of the third period with his 13th goal, a rebound effort that appeared to carom off Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis and past goalie Marek Mazanec. Defenseman Jason Garrison and center Mike Santorelli drew assists. Kesler applied the killing blow with a power-play marker at 14:15, backhanding the rebound of Garrison's shot off the right goal post and behind Mazanec. Mazanec (5-5-1) made 30 saves, but he gave up more than two goals for the first time in nine games, dating back to a Nov. 15 loss to the Penguins in Pittsburgh. The first period featured relatively few shots on net -- 13 total between the teams -- and no penalties. It had an odd moment when the goal horn blared for a split-second after Nashville left winger Viktor Stalberg missed the net on a point-blank chance from the slot. Vancouver right winger Brad Richardson initiated the scoring at 15:24 of the second period with a rebound shot from an extreme angle to the right. It appeared to hit off Mazanec's right shoulder and flop into the net for Richardson's sixth goal. That lead lasted all of 30 seconds. Predators center Colin Wilson potted a rebound goal, his fifth of the year, after a nice setup from right winger Patric Hornqvist left him with an open net at the goalmouth. NOTES: Nashville D Shea Weber (eye) missed his second consecutive game after being hit with a shot Thursday night in the second period of a 3-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Predators D Kevin Klein (foot) also sat out and might not return until a Dec. 12 home game with the Dallas Stars. ... Vancouver RW Alexandre Burrows is out for four to six weeks after suffering a broken jaw in Sunday's 3-2 win at Carolina when he was struck by a puck. ... Predators G Marek Mazanec was named Rookie of the Month in the NHL on Tuesday. Mazanec, who is filling in for starter Pekka Rinne (hip infection), went 5-4-1 with a 2.00 goals-against-average and a .932 save percentage in November. ... The Canucks, who played 17 of their first 30 games on the road, will start a five-game homestand Friday night against the Phoenix Coyotes.